Etching apparatus.



FREDERICK A. FLICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

nronnve APPARATUS.

Application filed July 26, 1913.

To all w/iom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. FLIGK, of New York, N. Y., have invented certain Etching Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompany drawings, is a specification, like char acters on the drawings designating like parts. i

This invention relates to etching apparatus, and is of special utility when embodied in apparatus for etching printing plates, although I contemplate the use of my improvements in any field for which they are adapted by their nature.

An important object of my invention is to provide an etching apparatus with a support on which the article to be treated may be rotated to expose the different portions of its surface at various angles to the fluids applied thereto, and preferably to construct and arrange the support and its container in such a way that the article to be treated will be rotated under constant 01 servation by the operator, obviating the necessity for interruption of the operation to examine the plate and change its position relatively to the fluid spray.

Another important object of my invention consists in the provision of means to cleanse the article without the necessity for removing it from the container in which it has been treated, and to make this possible I prefer to provide means to drain the etching and cleansing fluids into separate compartments; and still another important object comprises the provision of means to regulate the volume of the fluids used in treatment of the articles.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specifications, and pointed out in the claims.

the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates, in vertical section, etching apparatus in the construction of which my invention has been embodied; Fig. 11 is a similar view of a modified form of etching apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. III is a similar view of still another modification; and Fig. IV is a fragmentary view of a detail of construction to be described.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description to enable ready and completeunderstanding of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Serial no. 781,409.

my improvements, the part designated by the reference numeral 1 is an acid-proof container, and 2 designates a support upon which may be carried rotatably the article 3 to be treated, while 4 designates the means for applying the etching fluid 5. These parts may be of any suitable material and construction, and in the instance selected by way of example, as a convenient form of construction for illustration and description, the container 1 is a rectangular tank of earthenware, preferably having a vent 10, and with an inclined integral bearing 12 which receives ashaft 14;, the upper end 16 of which serves as a pivot for the rotatable support 2, the two being secured together by suitable fastening means, such as the set screw 18, while at the other end of the shaft may be provided a thrust bearing 20, carried by the base 22 which forms part of the foundation for the etching apparatus, other base members being shown at 24.

As means to position the article 3 to be treated,in this instance a printing plate,- I have shown the support 2 as taking the form of a rectangular platen having graded plate-supporting ridges 21 pierced with holes 23, which serve as draining outlets, this arrangement of stepped ledges affording means to support different sizes of plates in such a manner that the plate supported is prevented positively by the ledges from sliding, but can be put in place and removed freely without the need of adjustment of the supporting ledges regardless of the size of the plate. As means to rotate the plate 3 upon its support 2, I have shown a grooved sheave 26 upon shaft 14, with a belt 28 running to driving shaft 30 of motor 32, while a similar driving belt 3 1- may be run to a driving sheave on outer end of shaft 38 which carries the four-bladed paddle wheel f constituting a convenient and well-known form of means to dip up the etching fluid 5 and throw it against the rotating support 2 and plate 8, while another belt 40 may be run from said driving sheave to actuate a ventilating fan 42, if forced ventilation be desired, in ventilator 10.

I prefer to provide a baffle plate 14: of suitable design to break up the fluid dipped up by the paddle 4 and aid in directing it in the form of spray against the plate 3,

and I prefer to so arrange the plane of rotation of the supporting platen 2that it can be readily observed by the operator through transparent covers 16 provided for that pur- OSB.

At 48 I have shown an outlet for the etching fluid, and at 50 I have shown an inlet from a fluid supply tank 52, from which etching fluid or washing fluid may be introduced to the plate 3 and its support 2, controlled by a suitable valve 5a.

\Vhere found convenient, one motor 32 may be utilized to operate the moving parts of two tanks 1, and in the instance illustrated the parts which I have just described are all shown in duplicate, arranged symmetrically on eachside of motor 32, hearing corresponding reference characters.

In operation, a suflicient supply of etchin g fluid 5 having been introduced to tank 1, and the plate 3 having been set upon platen 2 the glass covers 16 will be drawn over in the position indicated in Fig. I, and upon starting the motor the belt will rotate the paddles 1 to dip up fluid 5 and throw it against the bafller 11 and against plate 3, in the form of spray, while the belt 28 will rotate the shaft 1e and the platen 2 with its plate 3, so that the surface to be etched will be presented at constantly changing angles for the action of the etching spray, and it will be unnecessary to stop the operation of the latter to change the position of the plate, the eflect of the operation being constantly visible through the glass covers. Similarly, after the etching has been completed, the etching fluid can be drawn off through outlet 18, and washing fluid run from tank 52 over the plate 3, which may be rotated to insure a thorough washing. The plate may be further rotated also to facilitate the operation of drying, if desired.

In Fig. II I have illustrated a modified form of container and associated appliances, the container 101, retaining preferably the general rectangular form, with glazed cover 14-6, ventilator 110 and inclined bearing 112,

V for shaft 140, which carries rotatably a platen 102 like platen 2 already described, being provided likewise with ridges 121 and drainage apertures 123, and which may be driven by a motor 31 seated on a base 122 similar to the base 22, carrying a thrust bearing 120 below the sheave 126 from which a belt 128 runs to the shaft 130 of the motor. So also a rotary paddle Wheel 1041: mounted on shaft 138 and driven by belt 134: from motor 31 may be utilized to elevate the etching fluid 105 from the bottom of container 101, but instead of mounting this rotary elevator in the compartment of tank 101 containing plate 103, I have placed the elevator in a compartment 113, to which access for the etching fluid 105 is provided by an aperture 106 in division wall 107, this wall having an orifice 108 also, at a higher level, which serves as an outlet from a supply member 109, which in the instance illustrated takes the form of an open trough which receives the etching fluid elevated by elevator 10- suitable means being preferably provided to control the outflow from trough 109, as for example by mounting the trough 109 loosely at each end on a pivot ledge 19 carried by the side walls of compartment 113, and shown in detail in Fig. IV, the rocking of the trough being accomplished by suitable means, such as a camlever 115 pivoted at 119, and by which can be regulated the size of orifice 108, and the flow therefrom of the fluid supply 111 contained in trough 109.

As a convenient form of means to insure a forcible projection of the etching fluid in the form of a spray against plate 103, I have provided a compressed air supply pipe 116 pierced at 117 to direct a blast of air through the curtain of fluid pouring from chamber 109 through orifice 108, and this blast can be used also to direct a washing spray of water against the plate 103, or a separate water supply pipe 118 may be provided to furnish the washing fluid, in the form of a spray, or as a curtain of water to flow down over, and be projected by, the blast from air pipe 116.

In accordance with another important object of my invention, I prefer to provide suitable means to divide the fluids employed in treatment of the article 103, as for example, to direct the drainage of washing fluid separately from the etching fluid, and as one convenient form of construction to accomplish this separation I have shown a partition 111,'and a cooperating deflector vane 14:2,- pivoted at 113 and serving to direct acid into compartment 113, or water into compartment 155 as the operator desires, a lever 115 being provided to rotate the vane 1-12. Outlets for the compartments are shown at 148. An apron 61 serves to direct the drainage toward partition 141.

By the means described, the operator can apply to each plate treated fluids of the proper strength, for by turning the lever 115' to the left he can tilt up the bottom of trough 109 partially closing orifice 108 and diminish the supply of outflowing acid 111, and at the same time he can add water from pipe 118 to maintain the necessary volume of properly diluted etching fluid, which can be drained off through compartment 155 by turning deflector vane 142, so as not to dilute the acid in compartment 113. Thus only a little acid will be used for plates requiring weak acid.

In Fig. III I have shown a modification in which 201 designates a container having compartments 255, 213 divided by a wall 207 with apertures 206 to pass the etching fluid, one of these compartments containing CII a suitable support 202 for the article 203 to be etched, which support may be a rotatable platen of the sort already described and shown at 2, having a shaft 214 mounted in a bearing 212, and actuated by a belt 228 running to its sheave 226 from shaft 230 of motor 33, the whole being carried by a suitable base 222, which carries also a thrust bearing 220 for the shaft. A supply member in the form of a trough 209 is also shown, to which etching fluid is introduced from a suitable source, as by a rotary elevator 204 like the elevator 104 already described, being driven by suitable means, such as the belt 234, running from a pulley on the shaft 230 of motor 33, the container being provided with a controlling lever 215 to rock the trough 209 on a pivot ledge 229 as already described. I prefer to provide also a supplementary base partition 241, like the partition 141 described with reference to Fig. II, to divide the etching fluid from washing fluid, with an apron 61 to direct the drainage from plate 203 toward partition 241, and a deflector 242 which may be left in the dotted line position illustrated, when it will permit the etching fluid 205 to enter its compartment 213 or the deflector may be turned by a lever (not shown) like lever 145, to direct the drainage fluid into the lefthand compartment 255, as for example when the plate is being washed with water from water supply pipe 62. To spray the etching fluid from trough 209, or the water from pipe 62, over the plate 203, I have shown a rotary mechanical spreader 63, pivoted at 64, and driven by a belt 65 from shaft 238, the operation of this modified device being otherwise as already described. Suitable vents may be provided to drain the compartments separately, as indicated at 248, and the container will preferably have a ventilator 210 and transparent cover 246, like the corresponding parts already described with respect to preceding figures, the support 202 having likewise drainage outlets 223, and being secured adjustably to shaft 214 by a screw 218. By varying the size of pulleys on shafts 64, 238 and 230, the relative speeds of th elevator 204 and spreader 63 may be regulated as desired, and in general the pr0- portions of the various instrumentahties may be varied in accordance wlth the exigencies of particular installations, as for example the relative size of the compartments of the container, and the depth of trough 209, and its position relatively to elevator 204. I

daving illustrated and descrlbed my invention thus fully, and suitable means by which it may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific materials and forms of structure selected for illustration and description by way of example, nor do I limit myself in general otherwise than as set forth in the claims, read in connection with this specification.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An etching apparatus comprising an acid-proof container having a cover with a transparent observation portion, and divided into compartments by a partition, means in one of said compartments to support and rotate an article to be etched, at an angle permitting direct inspection from above, through said observation portion, a spreader at one side of said compartment to apply etching fluid to said article, a supply member in another compartment to receive the fluid at the bottom of said container and deliver said fluid past said partition to said spreader, means to move said supply memher to regulate the passage of fluid from said supply member past said partition.

2. An etching apparatus comprising a container having a compartment for the article to be etched and for the fluid drained therefrom, a rotatable support therewithin for said article, a separate supply compartment having an open supply trough, a rotary elevator constructed and arranged to dip in etching fluid at the bottom of said supply compartment to elevate said fluid to said supply trough and means to receive said fluid from said trough and project it upon said article.

3. An etching apparatus, comprising an acid-proof container having a support for the article to be etched, a supply chamber having an open supply trough with a discharge orifice, and means to regulate exit of fluid therefrom, a rotary elevator to dip into the fluid in said container and throw the same upward into said supply trough, and a rotary spreader to convert into spray he fluid from said supply trough and apply the same to said article, and means to rotate said rotary elevator and rotary spreader at i predetermined relative speeds.

4-. An etching apparatus comprising an acidproof container; means to support r0- tatably therein the article to be etched,

means to rotate said article, means to apply etching fluid to said article, auxiliary means to supply washing fluid for application to said article within said container, and means to drain said etching fluid and washing fluid separately within said container.

5, An etching apparatus comprising an acid-proof container having a plurality of compartments, a supporting member mounted therein to receive the object to be etched,

182118 to apply fluid to said object, and a deflector mounted between said supporting member and compartments and movable to direct the fluid draining from said object into the selected compartment.

6. An etching apparatus comprising a supporting platen with stepped ledges to re- New York and State of New York this 21st ceive any of a graded series of articles to be day of July, 1913.

etched, and means to support said platen to FREDERICK A. FLICK v rotate 1n a plane dlsposed angularly to the source of etching fluid and under observa- \Vitnesses: tion by the operator. ALEXANDER C. PROUDFIT,

Signed at New York, in the county of GEORGE S. BRAND.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. G. 

